Geography of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is an island country located in South Asia in the Indian Ocean. It is
famous for tea plantations, beaches, ancient Buddhist heritage, wildlife, and
spices. Sri Lanka has strategic importance because of its location near major
international sea routes. Questions related to Sri Lanka are frequently asked
in UPSC, SSC, Railway, Banking, Defence, PSC, and various General Knowledge
examinations.
Sri Lanka at a Glance
| Topic |
Information |
| Country |
Sri Lanka |
| Continent |
Asia |
| Region |
South Asia |
| Capital |
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte |
| Largest City |
Colombo |
| Official Languages |
Sinhala and Tamil |
| Currency |
Sri Lankan Rupee |
| Government Type |
Unitary Presidential Republic |
| Famous For |
Tea, Beaches, Buddhism, Wildlife |
Location and Boundaries of Sri Lanka
| Direction |
Bordering Water Body / Country |
| North |
Palk Strait and India |
| South |
Indian Ocean |
| East |
Bay of Bengal |
| West |
Laccadive Sea |
Major Physical Features of Sri Lanka
| Physical Feature |
Important Fact |
| Central Highlands |
Mountainous region in central Sri Lanka |
| Coastal Plains |
Surround most parts of the island |
| Tea Plantation Areas |
Located in hill regions |
| Tropical Forests |
Rich biodiversity region |
| Coral Reefs |
Found along coastal waters |
Major Rivers and Lakes of Sri Lanka
| River / Lake |
Important Fact |
| Mahaweli River |
Longest river in Sri Lanka |
| Kelani River |
Flows near Colombo |
| Kalu River |
Important southwestern river |
| Walawe River |
Important for irrigation |
| Parakrama Samudra |
Historic man-made reservoir |
Climate of Sri Lanka
| Region |
Climate Type |
| Coastal Areas |
Tropical Maritime Climate |
| Central Highlands |
Cool Mountain Climate |
| Northern Region |
Hot and Dry Climate |
| Southwestern Region |
Humid Tropical Climate |
Highest Mountains and Peaks of Sri Lanka
| Mountain / Peak |
Important Fact |
| Pidurutalagala |
Highest peak in Sri Lanka |
| Adam's Peak |
Important religious mountain |
| Knuckles Mountain Range |
UNESCO World Heritage region |
| Namunukula |
Important mountain range |
| Horton Plains |
Famous plateau and national park |
Natural Resources of Sri Lanka
| Resource |
Important Region |
| Tea |
Central Highlands |
| Graphite |
Central and southwestern regions |
| Gemstones |
Ratnapura Region |
| Rubber |
Wet zone plantations |
| Coconut |
Coastal plains |
Economy and Industries of Sri Lanka
| Sector |
Importance |
| Tea Industry |
Major export industry |
| Tourism |
Important source of foreign exchange |
| Textile Industry |
Major manufacturing sector |
| Agriculture |
Rice, tea, coconut production |
| Fisheries |
Important coastal occupation |
Important Cities of Sri Lanka
| City |
Importance |
| Colombo |
Commercial capital and largest city |
| Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte |
Administrative capital |
| Kandy |
Historic cultural city |
| Galle |
Historic coastal fort city |
| Jaffna |
Major northern city |
Major Tourist Attractions of Sri Lanka
| Place |
Importance |
| Sigiriya Rock Fortress |
UNESCO World Heritage Site |
| Temple of the Tooth |
Important Buddhist temple |
| Yala National Park |
Famous wildlife sanctuary |
| Galle Fort |
Historic colonial fort |
| Nuwara Eliya |
Popular hill station |
International Importance of Sri Lanka
| Organization / Achievement |
Important Fact |
| Indian Ocean Trade Route |
Strategic maritime location |
| Tea Exports |
World-famous Ceylon Tea producer |
| Buddhist Heritage |
Major Buddhist cultural center |
| Tourism Industry |
Popular South Asian destination |
| SAARC Membership |
Member of South Asian regional group |
Important One-Liner GK Facts About Sri Lanka
| Question |
Answer |
| Capital of Sri Lanka |
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte |
| Commercial capital of Sri Lanka |
Colombo |
| Currency of Sri Lanka |
Sri Lankan Rupee |
| Longest river in Sri Lanka |
Mahaweli River |
| Highest peak in Sri Lanka |
Pidurutalagala |
| Official languages of Sri Lanka |
Sinhala and Tamil |
| Sri Lanka belongs to which continent? |
Asia |
| Famous tea of Sri Lanka |
Ceylon Tea |
| Important Buddhist temple in Sri Lanka |
Temple of the Tooth |
| Famous rock fortress in Sri Lanka |
Sigiriya |